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The maker of Benson & Hedges cigarettes has accused the Health Secretary of “commercial vandalism” for proposing a ban on all branding of tobacco products.

Japan Tobacco International, whose brands include Silk Cut, Camel and Winston cigarettes, has set aside £2 million to fight the Department of Health and hinted yesterday that it could take the Government to court if Andrew Lansley’s plans to force cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging went ahead.

It said that the policy could infringe its property rights and would make it cheaper for smugglers to sell counterfeit cigarettes without paying tax. “We have